President's Column
We have just welcomed 2003 and already March is just around the corner-so goes life. New issues keep popping up on our radar screens, while it seems like some of the old issues never go away. One thing is constant; we must deal with the old and new issues simultaneously. The Nebraska AgRelations Council (NAC) is a "public information arm" for Nebraska's number one industry - agriculture. It is therefore necessary that the council be prepared to communicate clearly so rural and urban communities understand this vital Nebraska partnership.
Last year's Agriculture At The Crossroads" Agriculture in Transition; Adapting to Change: was a very successful and productive conference. The planning committee headed by Ray Supalla from the IANR's Agricultural Economics Department did an excellent job in organizing the event. Speakers engaged the audiences in lively discussions that provided diverse perspectives to be shared. The Ag At The Crossroads Conference has become a valuable annual program for the Ag Econ and NAC partnership. The interaction of the UNL LEAD Program at the conference makes everyone in attendance aware of the reality that effective leadership on any issue is key to effective communication of your message.
We have involved more LEAD members in NAC, by helping the new members attend our meetings and encouraging them to become members who become valuable volunteers to be on our committees. Craig Buescher, NAC Vice-President and LEAD Alumni Member, is a good example of this pattern of involvement. Craig has encouraged more LEAD members to join NAC and has been instrumental in weaving together the two programs for the benefit of both organizations.
Please reserve March 4th for NAC on your very busy calendars. The NAC Annual Meeting program committee, chaired by Craig Buescher has a program arranged that is vital to the core of our mission. This year's Annual Meeting is again being held prior to the Governor's Ag Conference on March 4th in Kearney. The Ag Conference will begin at 6:00 PM and our annual NAC meeting will be held from 3:00 - 5:00 PM. This will give everyone a chance to check into their rooms or mingle before the conference begins.
I extend my thanks to our NAC officers and to our committees and their chairs. Ted Hartung and Sandy McKinnon have given NAC the gift of "tireless dedication" to allow us to reach our goals. They have made my job easier and less stressful by helping keep our organization's business on time and on target. A special thanks also goes to Doug Duey. Doug is stepping down after serving as NAC's treasurer for many years. We will be electing a new treasurer at our Annual Meeting.
We hope to see you at our Annual Meeting on March 4th. We need strong membership support to convey how important the agricultural industry is to citizens of Nebraska - urban and rural. If we are successful, we have met our NAC goal - "to help ensure the viability and profitability of Nebraska's food and fiber industry by telling agricultures story to people throughout the state."
Duane Eversoll, President